Michael Moser Sr was born probably in Northampton Co PA between 1760 and 1750.[1] He died 31 May 1841 in Bedford Co PA. He was likely a grandson of Johan Martin and Margaretta (Kunkel) Moser of Goshenhoppen, Philadelphia Co PA, although the exact relationship has not been determined.

About 1781, possibly at Schlosser’s Reformed Church in Northampton Co PA, he married Eva Bortz, a daughter of Henry and Lydia (Reintzheimer) Bortz.[2] Eva Bortz was born in the 1760s and died in Bedford Co PA.

In the early 1780’s Michael and his bride were living near Weissenberg, Lehigh County as they baptized their first-born at nearby Ziegel Church. From baptismal records, it would seem that Michael and Eva later switched churches a few times.[3] The first child was Michael Moser Jr, baptized 4 Aug 1782, the son of Michael and Eva at Ziegel Church, Weissenberg Township. This baptism is listed elsewhere at a Genweb site as taking place at Lehigh Church, Lower Macungie Twp, Lehigh Co PA[4]. Sponsors were George Moser and Catharina Roth.[5]

One of the issues involved in solving the question of the location of our Michael Mosers, Junior and Senior, in the larger Moser family of Pennsylvania is the fact that at least four or more different men named John Michael Moser were having children at the same time, often having the children christened in the same churches. The men are usually distinguished by the first names of their wives.

These are births recorded in Northampton, Berks or Lehigh Counties in Pennsylvania:

Michael Moser and wife Barbara also appear as sponsors and grandparents of Abraham Moser, son of Abraham Moser, born 24 Oct 1813, christened 5 Nov 1813.[44]

It is therefore necessary to identify Michael Moser with a wife Barbara Kistler, Michael Moser with a wife Catharine—actually two Michaels with wives named Catherine, Michael Moser with a wife Eva Bortz, and Michael Moser with a wife Elizabeth.[45]

An early Michael Moser in Heidelberg Township, Northampton Co PA signed a 1753 petition to theCourt of Quarter Sessions expressing the need of a better road to Philadelphia.[46] A Northampton County resident named Michael Mosser Jr of Lynn Township signed the Oath of Allegiance in 1777.[47] Apparently another Michael Mosser from the same county, but with no township specified, also signed the Oath of Allegiance on 9 Apr 1777.[48] In 1778 a man identified only as “Moser” delivered wood to Gen Pulasky and others including half a cord several times for new troops.[49]

In Lowhill Township, Northampton Co PA in 1772, Michael Mosser was listed as a farmer with a grist mill, and paid tax of 5 .5 .4.[50] In 1785 in the same township and county, he was listed as Mich’l Mosser, grist mill, sawmill, oil mill, 300 acres, 2 horses, 4 cattle, and tax of 3 .1 .8.[51] In Macungie Township in 1786, possibly a different Michael Mooser had one head of cattle paid two shillings tax.[52] In that year in Lowhill Township, Michael Mosser had a grist mill and a sawmill with 300 acres, 2 horses, 4 cattle, and tax of 2 .6 .3.[53] In 1788, Michael Mosser had a grist mill, 158 acres, 2 horses, 3 cattle, and tax of 1 .7 .0.[54] There was also a single freeman named Michael Mosser in that township who paid a flat tax of 10 shillings.[55] In Lynn Township that year a single freeman named Michael Mosser paid the flat rate of 11 shillings six pence.[56]

One Michael Moser received a land warrant in Berks Co PA, 14 Jan 1774, for 100 acres.[57] The same or a different Michael Moser received a land warrant in Berks Co PA, 16 Jan 1794, for 138 acres.[58] And Michael Mosser Jr received a land warrant in Berks Co PA, 18 Feb 1811, for 44.135 acres.[59]

In Brunswick Township in 1779, Mich’l Mosser had a grist mill, 125 acres, 1 horse, 2 cattle and his tax was 996 (probably dollars).[60] In 1780, Mich’l Moser had a grist mill, 260 acres, 2 horses, 2 cattle, and his tax was 14 .0 .0 (pounds).[61] In 1781 in Bern Township, Mich’l Mosser had a sawmill, 149 acres, 3 horses, 4 cattle and tax of 3 .6 .8.[62] And that same year in Brunswick Township, there was a Mich’l Mosser, innkeeper, with 235 acres, 4 horses, 4 cattle, and tax of 3 .5. 4.[63] Also in 1781 in East District Township a third Mich’l Mosser was listed next to Francis Mosser, weaver, and Jno. Mosser, bl’cksmith; this Michael had no land one head of cattle and was taxed 1 .3 (one shilling, three pence).[64]

Michael and Catharine—or two couples with the same names—had at least Johan Michael, 1761, Johannes, 1763, Michael (again), 1764, Maria Barbara, 1780, and sponsored children in 1776 and 1780.

Michael and Barbara had at least Margaret, 1783, Daniel, 1784, and Abraham, 1788.

Michael and Elizabeth had at least Lydia, 1804, John, 1806, and Jacob, 1810.

It is not clear who were the parents of Ester, born 1810, but probably not Michael and Elizabeth, since she had another two weeks earlier.

Barbara Kistler married Johann Michael Moser, son of Tobias and Ursula Margaretta (Meyer) Moser. In addition to the three children listed above, this couple reportedly also had David, Philip and Michael.

This writer has identified Michael Moser (1752-1818) who married Catherine Magdalena Weinman about 1778 as the parents of Maria Barbara, born in 1780, but not of the children born in the 1760s. This was the family in Brunswick Township. His censuses read: 1790, Branswick/Manheim, Berks, PA, Michl Mosser: 3/1/5; 1800, Brunswick Twp, Berks Co PA: 31002/01001; 1810, Brunswick Twp, Berks Co PA: 11102/00201. He was a tavernkeeper. The DAR placed a plaque on the gravestone of this Michael, thereby identifying him as a Revolutionary war soldier, possibly 2nd Lt Whetstone’s Co, Berks Co Militia. Although the baptismal record doesn’t appear in the sources cited earlier, there is a record of the christening of this couple’s son Michael, 24 Mar 1782, Zion Church, sponsors Daniel Bensinger and Barbara, nothing further known. Several more children were born through 1796. Michael Sr died 1 Jun 1818, in Brunswick Township, Berks County (now Schuykill) PA.[65]

The earlier Michael Moser and wife Cathariine probably were John Michael Moser and wife Catherine Magdalena Bollenbacher. This Michael was christened 6 Jun 1734 at the New Hanover (or Falkner’s Swamp) Lutheran Church. He appears to be the same man later referred to as “Michael of Atolhoe.” His death occurred in 1820.[67]

Some Michael Mosers were possibly also called John, adding to this confusion. These were the Michaels in 1790 and 1800 in Pennsylvania:

·1790 Northampton Co PA, Lowhill Twp: Michel Moser, 1/3/3

·1790 Northampton Co PA, Lowhill Twp: John Moser, 2/2/4

·1790 Northampton Co PA, Lowhill Twp: Michel, Jur Moser, 1/0/1

·1790 Northampton Co PA, Lowhill Twp: Michel, Senr Moser, 1/2/3

·1790 Northampton Co PA, Lowhill Twp: Tobias Moser, 1/2/4

·1800 Northhampton Co PA, p 565: Michael Moser Sen, 11001/00001

·1800 Northhampton Co PA, p 565: Michael Moser Jun, 20010/11100

·1800 Northhampton Co PA, p 565: Michael Moser (big), 21001/30101

·1800 Northhampton Co PA, p 565: John Moser, 30110/11010

·1800 Northhampton Co PA, p 565: Tobias Moser, 22001/00101

These then are Michael Mosers in early Pennsylvania, identified in order of their births:

J. Martin and Margaretta (Kunkel) Moser arrived in Philadelphia, Sep 1728 on the James Goodwill, with their family. They had these sons: J. Frederick, J. Philip, J. Michael, and J. Burkhart. As can be seen from the above list, each of these men also had a son named Michael.

[1]He was over 45 in 1810 and 1820 (born before 1765), 70-80 in 1830 (born 1760-1770), 80-90 in 1840.

[2]A statement was made about George Bortz that he went to Cumberland Valley, Bedford County, married a Miss Smith, and died there. He had no children. After his father’s death, his mother, who was then 95 years old, rode in a heavy covered wagon from Lehigh to Bedford county, to visit her son and her daughter. Having remained there some time, she died at the age of 97 and was buried at French Cove, Bedford county. This information probably came from “Bortz Family,” Anniversary History Of Lehigh County, Vol. II, 1914.

[11]Baptism recorded in Dryland Union Lutheran Church, PA. The Dryland Church yard is situated at Hecktown, Northampton Co PA. I do not have the source of this record.

[12] John T Humphrey, Pennsylvania Births: Lehigh County, 1734-1800, Washington DC: Humphrey Publications, 1992. Records of Schlosser’s Reformed Church in North Whitehall Township—also known as Union Church in Unionville, 193.

[13]Rev. A S Leiby, Church Record of the Schlosser’s or Union Reformed Church, Unionville, Penna.: North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, 1765-1846, 1947. Copied by Paul Burelli, 1959, 19.

[14] John T Humphrey, Pennsylvania Births: Lehigh County, 1734-1800, Washington DC: Humphrey Publications, 1992. Records of Schlosser’s Reformed Church in North Whitehall Township—also known as Union Church in Unionville, 192.

[45]Compare apparently a different family, from Montgomery’s History of Berks Co PA, “MOSER FAMILY,” p 1212: There has been much confusion occasioned through two of the early settlers of this community bearing similar names, Burkhart Mosser, Jr., and Burkhard Moser. The family to which Howard L. Moser, of Cumru, belongs is that of the latter, Burkhard Moser.

In 1751 there emigrated to America Hans Michael Moser, with his wife Katharine, and four children, and settled in Amityville, Douglass township, Berks county, Pa. They came on the sailing vessel “Duke of Wurtemberg.” After locating in this country, a fifth child was born to them. Their children were: (1) George, born 1740, died 1806, and was buried at St. John’s, Centre Square, Montgomery county. His will was probated in 1807. He married Margaret Leber, but had no children, and she survived him forty-eight years, dying at the age of 104 years; she is buried in the Muhlenberg cemetery at Trappe. (2) Peter, born 1742, died 1829, aged eighty-seven, and was buried in the Pottstown cemetery. His will was probated in 1830. He settled in Pottstown, and became the father of twelve children, five boys and seven girls, namely: John, Henry, Peter, Jacob and George; Anna Maria m. a Geiger; Catherine m. a Pyle (their son, Henry M. Pyle, lives in Pottstown); Hannah m. a Weidner; Margaret m. a Neidig; Eliza m. a Yocum and moved to Ohio; Anna m. an Egolf; and Lydia m. a Brunner. (3) Barbara, born 1745, died in 1817. She married a Neuman, and settled in Pottstown, but her place of burial is unknown. Her will was probated in 1818. Her four children were: Mary, Peter, Philip and John. (4) Burkhard is mentioned below. (5) Christian, born 1755, died in 1838, and was buried at St. John’s, Centre Square. His will was probated in 1839. He was the father of four children, two sons and two daughters, but the two sons died young. The daughters were: Mary, who married Jacob M. Hurst; and Elizabeth, who became the wife of Benjamin F. Harry. Christian Moser was the only son of his parents born in America.

Burkhard Moser, born 1748, son of Hans Michael, was three years old when the family came to America. At the time of the Revolution, he and his younger brother Christian enlisted for service in the Continental army, and served through the whole of the war. They sent the pay received from the government to their brother, Peter, near Pottstown, and after the close of the war they returned to Montgomery county. Christian settled in Whitepain township, buying a farm with the money he had received from the government. Burkhard was somewhat eccentric and, it is stated, of “wild habits,” and he went into the mountains perhaps a little earlier than 1800, and settled in what is now known as Tamaqua, Schuylkill county. There is evidence to show he visited his brothers on several occasions, and that Peter visited him once or twice. On Jan. 17, 1815, he purchased 416 1/2 acres of land from James McCorckle and John Didier, paying $510 in silver for it. The deed gives the exact lines and posts, and his brother, Peter, who seems to have always cared for his brother’s money, gave him the necessary funds to make the payment. He built a log house on his land, began to cultivate it, and lived there for some thirteen or fourteen years, paying the taxes on it up to the year of his death. He died in full possession without debts, in 1828, but where he is buried or who performed the burial rites is not known. The land was later claimed by the company who had paid the taxes for two years after his death, then built a log house, which still stands on an elevation near Panther Creek, and claimed it as a squatter’s claim. Burkhard Moser was a bachelor, and died intestate as far as is known. This old man of about eighty years at the time of his death, lived alone in the mountains, and naturally those who knew him thought he was without friends or relatives. When Peter died in 1829 he was ignorant of his brother’s death, and Christian “was entirely blind eight years before his death, and being a devout Christian, thought little and cared less for all earthly estates.” With these brothers was buried all true and exact knowledge of Burkhard’s property.

[66]“Bortz Family” Anniversary History Of Lehigh County, Vol. II, Copyright 1914: “George Bortz went to Cumberland Valley, Bedford County, married a Miss Smith, and died there. He had no children. After his father’s death, his mother, who was then 95 years old, rode in a heavy covered wagon from Lehigh to Bedford county, to visit her son and her daughter. Having remained there some time, she died at the age of 97 and was buried at French Cove, Bedford county.”

[67]“History of the Lehigh Valley” (an unpublished book): “Michael Mosser, born in 1734, a brother of Philip and Burkhard,….settled in Lowhill Twp. about 1760, where he built the first gristmill in the township. In 1813, at the age of 80, he married, as his second wife, Miss Catharine Daubert.” “Michael died in 1820, aged 86 years.”

[68]What is the source of this date? It is the same date given for the birth of a Michael who apparently died young.

Question about the Henry M Pyle in your Blog. I have traced the Pyle side of my family and may have a mistake. My GGG Grandfater Henry M Pyle’s parents were John Pyle and Catherine Myers Born 1805 Could the Myers be a mistake and could it be Moser instead? I am very interested in getting to the bottom of this since I can’t trace this line back any farther currently.

I found that marriage in the book cited. Since it was contemporary with your Henry M Pyle, I imagine it was correct. Have you looked at census records for Pottsdown? If this is your Henry and his mother Catherine, I would certainly consider the Moser link for her identity. Were the Pyles and Mosers neighbors? were there also Myers families? I would definitely research the Mosers for a connection.

Thank you for this information. Do you know whom this Johann Michael Moser (II) married? And are there more Moser baptisms at that church? As you can see, a family geanealogist am never satisfied but always wants more.

Have been researching my line and have traced back to Henry Moser born in York Co., PA 30 March 1786. It is believed that Henry is the son of John Moser born around 1760 who died 31 October 1826. I believe John Moser married Catharine Lindey (?) who died in March 1828. I have been told that John Moser is the son of Michael and Maria Eva (or Eva Maria) Elassar. Does this match with any records you have?

There are records for a Jacob Moser, who is supposedly the son of Johann Michael Moser, Sr. (wife – Eva Bortz).
He supposedly was born 19 Jul 1792, in Lowhill Twp., Northampton (now Lehigh) Co., PA and died 15 Aug 1871, in Seneca Co., PA.
He can be found in these census records:
1840 Colerain Twp., Bedford Co., PA
1850 Colerain Twp., Bedford Co., PA (family #139)
1860 and 1870 Clinton Twp., Seneca Co., OH
Do you have anything on him?

I am seaching for Mary Moser born 1848 in Germany, immigration year1856. Her father name was Peter and I do not know her mother name. She died 2/10/1916. She married Monroe Rutman of Lehigh Cty, Pa. They are both buried Egypt Cemetary, Whitehall Township, Pa.
I have been trying to place which Moser family they belong to any help so I can trace my great great grandmother family.
Thanks JG

Hi. Looking for information on Jacob Grant born 9/02/1802 Bapt 11/14/1802 Schwartzwald Ref. Church Parents were John Grant and wife Maria sponsors were Jacob Moser and Anna Mohr. e mail scott1@embarqmail.com Would love to hear from you.